From John Gruber:
There’s a lot to unpack here, including more background information — and on-the-record statements — from a briefing Apple held Tuesday that I was invited to at Apple Park. But the bottom line is that Apple’s public statements regarding the DMA and the European Commission have never been this strident before. In its public statements, Apple has always been diplomatic. That’s the word.
Now, they’re a bit more on war footing. There’s a massive gulf between what Apple is willing to do with Siri AI in the EU and what the Commission is demanding from Apple for DMA compliance. As things stand there’s no middle ground. Apple’s offers for compromise have been rejected. Unless one side changes its mind and concedes its current position, Siri AI will never come to the EU, and what Apple is saying here is that they’re unwilling to create the open-access-to-user-data system that the EC is demanding.
Say what you will about policies from the Trump administration, but their willingness to go to bat for American companies in Europe and elsewhere seems like a good thing. I can’t imagine Apple taking a similar posture during Biden’s time in office.
I just can’t put into words the mess the EU has made of the internet with its cookie consent policies and overall the GDPR regulations. I’m not sure anyone actually believes the world has a more secure or more private internet today as a result of EU policymaking. Perhaps I’ll get Anthropic’s Fable to help me visualize the sheer number of electrons consumed and time spent as people across the world click “deny” or “accept” to those dreaded popups.
The EU, unsurprisingly blames Apple. This from spokesperson Thomas Regnier on LinkedIn of all places:
What is the true story behind Apple’s decision not to roll out “Siri AI” in the EU?
This decision is Apple’s and Apple’s only.
Because absolutely nothing in the DMA prohibits Apple from rolling out new features in the EU.
Yes, the European Commission and Apple had a few contacts on “Siri AI”.
But instead of offering a compliant solution, Apple asked to be exempted from its interoperability obligations under the DMA – and this for 18 months.
That’s not an option. EU rules are non negotiable.
And it would mean that no AI agent other than “Siri AI” could be chosen by EU consumers.
Apple, like any other gatekeeper, cannot close the market. The DMA is very clear about that.
Our developers have the right to compete. And our consumers the right to choose.
Those who want to keep using Apple products in their current form can of course do it.
But for those who want to use another AI agent, the DMA will give them the possibility to do so.
Update June 15: A group in the EU created a petition to bring Siri AI to the EU. 10k signatures so far. They’re aiming for 100k.
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